Cody Rhodes’ first title defense a success

An epic main event encounter from two of the top guys.

The main event of today’s (Sat., May 4, 2024) Backlash premium live event at the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France featured WWE Champion Cody Rhodes in his first defense of that title against veteran multi-time champion AJ Styles.

They didn’t have much time to build out a feud between the two, settling on Styles holding something of a grudge against Rhodes for having his path to greatness paved by those above and who came before him, with assists from WWE Legends far and wide in helping him “finish the story.” Styles never had that help, and he reached the top of the mountain anyway.

But he couldn’t do it again here.

Again, the crowd was the star of the show:

They had one of those main event epic type of affairs Triple H was always fond of as an active wrestler. They fought each other to exhaustion, digging deep for everything they had to keep fighting on to win the top prize in the land. Styles broke out a Burning Hammer, and Rhodes, I shit you not, hulked up.

It was that kind of a match, like two superheroes throwing their heaviest shots at each other and coming back for more anyway. In the end, a top rope Cody Cutter followed by a Cross Rhodes was what put Styles down for the final three count.

The story continues.

Get complete Backlash results and coverage of every match on the card by clicking here.